Rangers notes: Alain Vigneault not happy with J.T. Miller

Coach Alain Vigneault was not shy with his negative assessment of J.T. Miller when asked why the 21-year-old forward, the 15th overall pick in 2011, could not stick with the Rangers.

Miller was reassigned to Hartford (AHL) on Wednesday after his most recent stint with the team lasted just four games, the last two as a healthy scratch.

"There needs to be more commitment from his part on the ice and off the ice and, until there is, he hasn’t earned the right to be at this level on a regular basis," Vigneault said. "That’s part of any young player going through the process of being an NHL player. You’ve got to figure it out and hopefully he will. And when he does, we’ll have a good player.

"If he doesn’t figure it out, then he’ll be a good minor leaguer," Vigneault added.

Miller has three goals and three assists in 30 games for the Rangers this season while struggling defensively.

Who’s passive?

Former NHL referee Paul Stewart opined in his blog on Wednesday that Vigneault and the Rangers’ reaction to Alex Burrows’ hit on Ryan McDonagh was "like they barely had a pulse."

Stewart said the Rangers were simply "passive" after McDonagh injured his left shoulder with 43.8 seconds left in Tuesday’s 3-1 win at Vancouver and Burrows was given a five-minute major for elbowing and a game misconduct.

Vigneault, who told agitator Dan Carcillo not to go onto the ice following Burrows’ hit, defended his coaching.

"It’s 3-1, the game isn’t won, they’ve pulled their goaltender and we’re playing our top guys," Vigneault said.

"They’re down to two lines, and it’s two physical players that are going at a defenseman going back for a puck. Sometimes stuff happens."